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Small business around the region received quite a boost thanks to the Payroll Protection Program.

According to data from the U.S. Small Business Bureau, the area, which includes Elizabethtown, Radcliff, Vine Grove, Hardinsburg, Leitchfield, Hodgenville, and others, saw over $43.6 million in loans under $150,000 to small businesses.

Elizabethtown saw the largest amount of loans provided, with a combined amount of almost $25 million. Leitchfield was second with roughly $6 million, and radcliff was third at $5.18 million. The program is part of the $2 trillion CARES Act, which was signed into law this spring.

For the second day in a row, the state of Kentucky has seen its second largest day of positive COVID-19 results.

On Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear announced 402 new cases of the virus, which brings the state’s total to just under 18,000 cases. As cases statewide are seeing an uptick, Beshear says he will announce new mandatory steps and precautions during his update today at 4 p.m. A possible mandate on masks in public is expected, as several other states, including Texas and New Jersey, have already made the move.

Locally, 12 new cases were announced by Lincoln Trail District Health Department, bringing their total number to 460. And after several days of high case numbers, Hardin county saw only 2 new cases.